Risking Lives To Prosecute Activists

Extinction Rebellion or XR is a worldwide organization trying to tackle climate change with nonviolent protests. With thousands of followers on social media, across all of the XR accounts, the cause is seeking change from governments.

In the UK 2019 protests, over 2,000 people were arrested for civil disobedience. However, due to the Coronavirus, many court dates had been pushed back until this year. The UK is in the height of its second wave and 3rd lockdown with a stay-at-home order in place. Thus, travelling to court, across the country, for such a little crime seems counterproductive.

The XR movement wants to create a better environment to save lives yet are being forced to court hearing putting more lives at risk. Nonetheless, those who did have had recent court dates were a no-show.

It is unsure what will happen now for those activists, but all public protests have been stopped until it is safe to do so. But that hasn't stopped the youth of XR. Two teenagers have just stopped their 10-day hunger strike, in protest of a mine being built in Cumbria. It has been approved 3 times, to which the Mayor of the new mining town states “it's time for people to understand the arguments have been had”. The teenagers said they have stopped due to medical advice.

Up next, So You Are Thinking About Going Zero Waste?